After nearly a decade serving with Anglican Youth Ministry Wellington, Andy Spence is stepping down to begin a new chapter as Co-Vicar, with Emily, at Peninsula Parish in Miramar.  

Andy reflects on the privilege of serving among the youth of our Diocese.  

"In 2015 I embarked on a new chapter, moving to Wellington from Christchurch, to join the Trentham Parish as a youth worker," says Andy.  

Chris Casey, the Diocesan Youth Coordinator, charged me with invigorating the youth community. The energy was palpable, and he soon connected with many incredible young people and forged lifelong friendships. 

He says, “One of my fondest memories from that time is Central Easter camp. We attended with four young participants, all donning orange hats in homage to my red hair. This quirky gesture made us the highlight of the camp, with everyone wanting those hats. By the following year, we had grown exponentially, bringing 25 young people to Easter camp.: 

At St. James Lower Hutt Andy saw further expansion of youth outreach programmes.  

"We built on the foundation laid by previous youth workers, serving waffles to 100 young people on the steps of St. James," he says.  

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges too. So adaption was required fast.  

"Our house buzzed with activity as we prepared the Pre-Show for the Diocesan Live Streams, guided youth groups on Zoom leadership, recorded shows for the AYM Spotify page, and participated in Easter camp Live," he explains. 

More recently at All Saints Hataitai, Andy has focused on empowering others to lead youth initiatives.  

Despite the challenges facing the church, he remains optimistic about the future of youth ministry.  

"I believe God will guide the Anglican Youth Movement to new heights, reaching suburban youth and expanding our current youth groups," he states. 

Reflecting on his journey, Andy expresses gratitude for the support he’s received. "Throughout this journey, I've been blessed by the support and mentorship of many remarkable individuals," he acknowledges. 

"While my role will now be as a Vicar, my heart remains close to youth work." 

Jesse Duckworth continues as Anglican Youth Movement Coordinator.

Andy and Emily will be welcomed to Peninsula Parish on 1st September.